Portland passes budget earlier than in past decade

Portland Fire Chief Al West speaks of the need for the new fire hall during a committee meeting in early 2014. The $1 million project could be finished by mid-2015 and would be located in the north part of town.
(Photo:
DESSISLAVA YANKOVA / File / Gallatin News Examiner
)

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Portland councilors this week approved the city’s budget earlier than they have in the last 10 years.

On Monday, the City Council unanimously passed the final 2014-15 budget that includes several major projects and a sanitation fee increase, but no property tax hike.

“The just of this whole budget was that every department got a little something that they needed,” said City Recorder Doug Yoeckel, who handles Portland’s finances.

With total expenditures at a little above $9.7 million and revenues at $9.5 million, Yoeckel balanced funds with about $200,000 from the rainy day fund. The city had set to have at least $1.5 million of rainy day funds by the end of fiscal year 2014-15, a goal met at the end of 2013.

The $2 sanitation fee increases brings household trash pickup from $16 to $18. The increase is slated to bring in $96,000 that would make the solid waste department more self-sustainable. The department now falls about $28,500 short of revenues. The solid waste department was scheduled to be almost $200,000 short in 2013-14, but because of operational improvements, the amount was brought down to $133,000.

“That’s over $60,000 in savings they created,” Yoeckel said. “That’s over a dollar per person per month.”

City employees will receive a 2 percent pay increase, as they did the previous year. The 2014-15 increase would cost taxpayers a little more than $73,000.

Money for new fire hall

Three key projects would be funded with a $1.5 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The largest is a $1 million fire hall to address the city’s ongoing and projected growth, especially on the north side of town where several infrastructure upgrades are in the works, including a Highway 109 bypass and an interchange on Interstate 65.

Almost $150,000 is allocated for six full-time firefighters. The new fire station could be completed by April 2015.

After a November 2013 tornado blew off the metal roof of Portland’s fire hall that also houses the police department, the roof was replaced through $70,000 of insurance money. Another $200,000 — also through the $1.5 million grant — is planned for building maintenance, mostly to the police part that needs electrical and HVAC upgrades among others.

The remaining $300,000 of the grant would provide funds for city hall renovations. Councilors have debated moving their main administrative building to a new location or expanding the current one.

“No matter what, we’ll have to do some renovations to keep the building functional,” Yoeckel said. “How much would depend on whether we keep it here or move.”

Paving is also in the plans through $130,000 coming from about $210,000 collected through a 7 cent property tax increase in 2013-14. That increase is also proving $57,000 for stormwater projects to prevent flooding issues.

Another $40,000 would provide for a new cover for the city pool and vehicles for the parks department.

Lawmakers passed the budget at least a month earlier than they have in the past 10 years. Although, councilors have mostly approved the final budget close to the June 31 deadline, they hit a few record late years ending 2009, 2010 and 2011 when they passed the document on Sept. 15, Aug. 24 and Oct. 21, respectively.